Mesoporous silicon-carbon composite anodes for lithium-ion battery prepared with the P123-templated SBA-15

The pursuit of high-performance anodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has led to the development of a kind silicon-carbon composite anode derived from mesoporous SBA-15. This study introduces a novel one-step magnesiothermic reduction process that utilizes the organic P123 template as an endogenous carbon source, rather than discarding it as hazardous waste. To further enhance its performance, a carbon layer from phenolic resin was coated onto the Si/C composite, creating the C@Si/C anode. Material characterizations revealed a mesoporous structure with a high specific surface area and well-dispersed silicon particles. Electrochemical measurements demonstrated that the C@Si/C anode delivered the superior rate performance to other samples at a current density from 0.1 A g- 1 to 2 A g- 1, with a retention capacity of 500 mAh g- 1 at 2.0 A g- 1. This performance surpasses that of pristine Si anode, highlighting the synergistic effect of endogenous and exogenous carbon layers. The C@Si/C anode also exhibited superior cycling stability, having 1233 mAh g- 1 after 100 cycles at 1.0 A g- 1.The findings underscore the importance of the carbon layer's type and content in silicon-carbon anodes. The endogenous carbon from the P123 template contributed significantly to the structural and electrochemical properties of the anode.